At 6am the inshore boat Three Jays skippered by James Roberts leaves the fish market having taken on fresh bait which the crew are cutting up ready to put in the pots as they are hauled.
At 5pm, as the sun sinks behind Newlyn, the fleet of local sardine boats have either shot or are in the process of shooting their ring nets. The Golden Harvest heads North past the Asthore with her deck lights ablaze - hundreds of gulls wheel around the boat and the net can clearly be seen at the side of the boat as the crew begin to transfer by pump fish from the net to the tanks.
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| VesselTracker AIS tracks left by the Golden Harvest after sevreal night's fishing. |
Passing the 'winky (flashing light) on the end of the net, the Golden Harvest then turns sharply to starboard to come full circle and trap the fish in the closed net - as she closes the net Signals for purse seinersshe puts up her flashing yellow lights to indicate that she is now unable to move (or comply with the collision regulations) - as the net is closed the deck lights come on and the crew begin to close up the net, hopefully with fifteen tons of fish inside.
The Collision Regulatiosn are the maritime equivalent to the Highway Code. Unlike road users where amateur and professional drivers all have to pass a test to show their competency, in the UK, amateur sailors can go to see without even knowing of the existence of the Collision Regulations.
Rule 26 - Fishing Vessels
(a) A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed by this rule.
(b) A vessel when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the dragging through the water of a dredge net or other apparatus used as a fishing appliance, shall exhibit;
(i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being green and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line one above the other; a vessel of less than 20 meters in length may instead of this shape exhibit a basket;
(ii) a masthead light abaft of and higher than the all-round green light; a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so;
(iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.
(c) A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling, shall exhibit:
(i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line one above the other; a vessel of less than 20 meters in length may instead of this shape exhibit a basket;
(ii)when there is outlying gear extending more than 150 meters horizontally from the vessel, an all-round white light or a cone apex upwards in the direction of the gear.
(iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.
(d) A vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing may exhibit the additional signals described in Annex II to these Regulations.
(e) A vessel when not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in this Rule, but only those prescribed for a vessel of her length.
Additional to Rule 26 - Signals for Fishing Vessels Fishing in Close Proximity:
1. General
The lights mentioned herein shall, if exhibited in pursuance of Rule 26(d), be placed where they can best be seen. They shall be at least 0.9 meter apart but at a lower level than lights prescribed in Rule 26(b)(i) and (c)(i). The lights shall be visible all around the horizon at a distance of at least 1 mile but at a lesser distance than the lights prescribed by these Rules for fishing vessels.
2. Signals for trawlers
(a) Vessels engaged in trawling, whether using demersal or pelagic gear, may exhibit:
(i) when shooting their nets; two white lights in a vertical line;
(ii) when hauling their nets; one white light over one red light in a vertical line.
(b) Each vessel engaged in pair trawling may exhibit:
(i) by night, a searchlight directed forward and in the direction of the other vessel of the pair;
(ii) when shooting or hauling their nets or when their nets have come fast upon an obstruction, the lights prescribed in Rule 26(a) above.
3. Signals for purse seiners
Vessels engaged in fishing with purse seine gear may exhibit two yellow lights in a vertical line. These lights shall flash alternately every second and with equal light and occultation duration. These lights may be exhibited only when the vessel is hampered by its fishing gear.
